Baby crying more than 6 hours

[Lemonicecream]

NC for this.

I'm awake and not able to sleep as I this terrible flu bug. Nonetheless I am here cosied up in bed with MN and two cats on my lap for company.

I live with one upstairs neighbour in a maisonette and for the last 6-7 hours their baby has been crying. A really distressed low level wailing. Stops for about 10 minutes and then starts again.

I find baby crying noise extremely distressing and I can't find my headphones. This is in addition to 4 years of no fail morning and evening wailing and crying from their older child. Usually remedied by the parents whooping at the child as a distraction. Obviously doesn't work as the child is probably looking for comfort.

I understand child rearing is hard as I have DC myself and I am a single parent but AIBU to just be at the end of my tether now and want to rip my ears off.

Anyone? I am just at the end of my tether with this flu bug. I'm also have palpitations.

Please report them to SS. That does not sound normal or ok! In what world is it ok for a baby to be crying for 6-7 hours? Is an adult even home?!

Do you know the neighbour personally? Do they seem strange? Do their kids look neglected?

It must be awful for you in terms of noise levels but I am very concerned about that poor baby being left to cry for hours!

Poor wee thing. The parents must be stressed out too.

I'd try and play music to try and block it out

Quite funny my assumption is parents are doing their best, probably stressed out, baby is unwell or something.
Other poster thinks it should be reported, baby is being neglected

Op only you know your neighbours and what you think is going on.

If I heard a baby crying for that long I'd be worried something had happened to its parents and it was alone. Do you know there's definitely an adult in the house with the baby?

No matter how stressed parents are, where is their maternal empathy for their child in distress for hours on end? Obviously babies cry but they should be comforted rather quickly, not even a cry it out method (which shouldn't even be implemented on babies) lasts for six to seven hours straight.

That is not normal behaviour. No sane person would even be able to listen to a baby crying for 6-7 hours let alone the actual parents of said baby!

It is NEVER ok to leave a small baby to cry for SIX-SEVEN hours, that IS neglect at the highest degree and it should be reported to SS. That report could save those childrens lives. Please check on that poor baby if you can! I'm genuinely worried.

I'd also report to ss. Really not normal for a baby to be crying that long.

Please go and check. Can you go and knock and say you just wanted to check everything is okay. If they don't answer I'd be concerned something has happened and would be calling the emergency services.

This was my first thought too. If you can’t phone/ knock their door I’d be inclined to call 101 and ask for a welfare check.

I have a 7 week old baby with horrible digestive issues. Some days he cries for hours on end and nothing I do will comfort him, it’s very distressing for both of us. He is under a consultant but they have no idea what his allergy is.
I’d be mortified if I was reported to SS for him crying. I already feel like a failure.
do what you need to do but only do this if you truly have concerns about his wellbeing, not because you want some quiet.

put some White noise on.

Well the crying seems to have stopped for now. I have just stress binged on cheese and crackers due to the noise.

Joking aside, for those saying to report to SS, I have really considered even before the baby was born as I have had to listen to four years of the older child (who not more than 5) screaming and wailing and crying day and night where it's obvious the parents are not coping. Usually left to cry as well. Now there's a baby added to the mix.

Thanks I never thought about 101 for a welfare check. To be honest I have been more concerned about the older child as their crying fits are everyday and have gone on for so long.

Poor thing has probably fallen asleep with exhaustion from all the crying

I can't put white noise on, I have can't find my headphones and I have DC1 sleeping in my room.

Do you relate every single thing to your own narrow experience? By that measure everyone should ignore any worrying signs of potential neglect because everyone would assume everyone is trying their best and wouldn't want anyone to be "mortified".

They are a couple. There was definitely at least one person in the room with the crying as I heard footsteps going across the room.

I know, I thought the same 🙁

Poor wee baby. I'd definitely be concerned with the baby's welfare more than anything

lol no not at all. Just giving the people saying report to social services a different perspective. There was nothing in my comment that really should have caused you to react to me like this.

I think the fact you’ve replied to me in such a nasty way when I’ve explained how I have a newborn and how distressed I am shows a lot about you as a person. You’re apparently so concerned about the older child yet have done nothing about this already…it’s only now the baby is crying and it’s bothering you that you may act on it? Ok then,
enjoy your cheese and crackers.

Ok

I would not recommend knocking on the door. I'd call the police or social services.

Yeah if they are neglectful they could also be aggressive

A baby is sick and crying. Next SS is involved instead of the neighbour went round to say Hi.
I don't get UK anymore.

Probably not aggressive but they are generally unfriendly and have been very rude to me at times.

I have no intention of knocking on the door! I can barely move from this horrible flu or covid or whatever I have.

I would be concerned about this.

But I also remember my twins and they would have phases of crying all evening despite me offering nappy change, milk, walking with them, rocking them, etc etc.

They were offered comfort but they still cried.

The doctors just said colic.

So yes, welfare check. But this is a thing that some babies just do and I was tearing my hair out.

This further confirms my suspicions of neglect.

SS involvement isn’t a bad thing if parents aren’t actually neglecting their kids, they will get the support they need.

SS involvement doesn’t automatically mean the children will be taken away, that is an absolute last resort and social workers are not keen on taking children away from their parents, this is only a likely outcome if their is a real concern, threat and neglect in which case it is best for the children unfortunately.

And even when there were reports of neglect, blatant abuse happening, children were involved and (Baby P, for example, amongst countless others) were all known to SS but they still ended up losing their lives because SS mishandled their case or simply didn’t act fast enough in taking those children out of danger.